U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will travel to the Minneapolis area on Friday, Jan. 20, to host two town halls: one focusing on higher education, specifically FAFSA—the Free Application for Federal Student Aid—and college affordability; and the other on creating a world-class cradle to college and career education system. Media availabilities will follow both events.
U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken will join Duncan at the morning town hall at South High School in Minneapolis at 10:30 a.m. CT. Duncan will answer questions from the 12th grade students and their parents about the simplified FAFSA and describe steps the Obama Administration is taking to ensure that college stays within reach of the middle class. He will also unveil a new @FAFSA Twitter site being launched to engage students, parents, and education professionals in conversations about FAFSA and to post timely and relevant information.
In the afternoon, Duncan will host the second town hall on Minnesota's "Pathways to Success,"where he will be joined by Gov. Mark Dayton, Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius and other state and local officials and business leaders. Duncan will discuss education reform and Minnesota’s winning Race To The Top-Early Learning Challenge, Investing in Innovation (i3), and Promise Neighborhood grants. Some 200 education stakeholders are expected to attend the town hall, which is being held at Irondale High School in New Brighton at 1:10 p.m. CT.